WORKERS temporarily transferred to the UK by Limerick construction company Roadbridge, which went into receivership last year, have won an increase in their redundancy payments at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
SIPTU Workers Rights Centre Sector Organiser, Deirdre Canty, said that Roadbridge had temporarily transferred some of its employees to work in the UK. The company went into receivership and these workers were then made redundant without notice in April 2022.
“They received their redundancy entitlements under UK legislation. However, this amounted to a major shortfall in the monies due to them if they had been paid redundancy in Ireland,” Ms Canty explained.
“At the WRC hearing, SIPTU representatives successfully argued that as they had worked in Ireland for longer than in the UK, the workers should have received payment under Irish legislation.
“One worker had a total service of 29 years and three months, of which ten months were spent in the UK. The shortfall between the redundancy payment he received and what he was entitled to in Ireland was more than €20,000.
“A claim for a minimum notice period for the workers was also successful. This resulted in them being awarded up to eight weeks in additional wages.
“This is a very significant win for our members and has the potential to have a much broader impact across the industry and on employment rights in general,” she added.
Former Roadbridge worker, Donal Ruane, who was among the complainants, said they found themselves redeployed outside Ireland as posted workers but because they were members of the union, SIPTU was able to ensure their legal rights were vindicated.
“All workers redeployed to another country should make sure to join the trade union and also get a written contract of employment which protects their years of service and established employment rights.”
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan said it was the first time a redundancy payment has been successfully challenged in this way.
“It is clear evidence of why those working abroad should join SIPTU to ensure they are adequately represented in situations such as these workers found themselves.”
